The North's Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) has frozen assets valued at around £300,000 which it believes to be the proceeds of robberies and burglaries at the homes of elderly people, it revealed today.
Possession has been taken of six homes across Northern Ireland after orders were granted by the High Court, said the ARA.
In its applications to the court the agency made the case that assets were "the proceeds of unlawful activity including the robbery and distraction burglary of elderly people living in isolated homes in country areas across Northern Ireland."
An Interim Receiving Order was granted at the High Court in Belfast yesterday after the agency searched premises in Lisburn, Dromore and Carryduff and seized a quantity of documents and other evidence.
The Interim Receiving Order also restrains other property believed to be in the possession of certain named individuals - including a 1984 Bentley Model 8, a 1996 Mercedes and a Range Rover.
The Interim Receiver has now begun an investigation into all of the assets.
When he makes a report to the High Court the ASA will decide whether to make an application for the assets to be forfeited. ends